Investigating the diversity of fish parasites in the floodplain of the upper Paraná River: a long-term ecological monitoring

Abstract

Abstract: Aim The aim of this study was to present the description of new species of fish parasites in native and non-native hosts and the parasite interaction / host, available in studies for 37 years in the upper Paraná River floodplain. Methods The sampling described in this study is part of a scientometric methodology, in which specific query expressions were used, together with the database available in the Nupelia Sector Library, through Theses and Dissertations. Results A total of 44 species of parasites belonging to different groups were described for 27 species of fish of different orders. In these 37 years of studies, an increase 68% was observed in the number of parasite species, presenting a richness of 201 species in the floodplain, being: Monogenea, Digenea, Nematoda and Cestoda are the groups that present the largest records of species. More than 80 hosts have their parasite fauna registered and most studies are carried out with species of native hosts in the floodplain, being Prochilodus lineatus the host with the highest number of records. Conclusions Parasitological studies are an important scientific tool for understanding the dynamics of ecological interactions in the natural environment, and knowledge of this diversity of organisms is continuous and necessary, and the results of the monitoring carried out in the floodplain during the last 37 years only reinforce this with a constant increase in the description of new species and new records of parasite-host interactions. In times of constant environmental loss and habitat fragmentation, it is of utmost importance to care for and preserve floodplains to maintain biodiversity.